EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Stanley Francis "JR" Zerkowski

A resident of Lexington, Kentucky, Zerkowski joins Fortunate Families after a long career in pastoral care and diversity topi cs. He is the Founder of Lexington UNITED Interfaith Encounters and Lexington UNITED Interfaith Dialogues. He designed and facilitated Lexington’s 1st Pride Interfaith Service at the Lyric Theater to close Pride week and the Lexington Pride Festival, bringing together 23 interfaith leaders: Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, as well as civic and community leaders, including Lexington’s mayor.

In the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, he co-founded and co-leads LGBT Ministry “Together on the Bridge,” an LGBT ministry, and he founded and leads “Together on the Journey,” an LGBT Family, Friends, and Allies Ministry. Among aothers, he holds a masters’ degree from Villanova University in Church Management and Administration.

His monthly faith-based article appears in LinQ, the Pride Community Services Organization of the Bluegrass LGBT magazine. He has been a contributor to Pastoral Liturgy Magazine, Liturgy Training Publications. He has received two Mayoral proclamations for his interfaith work and, in 2017, received the Lexington Fairness’ Jonathan Barker Leadership Award given in part because he “has taken the words of Pope Francis to heart and has worked to build bridges between the LGBT and faith communities.”

Board of Directors

Ed Buechel, KentuckyPresident Ed received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and his law degree from the University of Kentucky. He practices law in Northern Kentucky. Ed and his wife Kathy live in Edgewood, Ky. Ed and Kathy each have a gay son, and they are very proud of both of them. Ed also has a daughter and son-in-law, and Ed and Kathy have one grandson. Ed has participated in numerous parish activities and is involved in a number of community organizations. He serves as the first lay Chair of St. Charles Care Center, Inc. Ed and Kathy host Catholics Embracing the LGBT Community, a support group for parents of LGBT individuals in Northern Kentucky.

Cathy Hoffmann, IndianaTreasurer Cathy is a lifelong resident of southern Indiana. Cathy and her husband, Chris, have been married for 28 years and have two grown sons, one straight and one gay. Cathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at the University of Southern Indiana in 1988 and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Society. Currently, Cathy serves as the Controller the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. Her prior professional career includes 16 years with Karen L Schenk and Associates LLC, providing accounting and tax services to individuals, small businesses, trust and estates, and not-for-profits. She also spent 10 years with Deaconess Hospital in various roles in the finance and personnel services departments. Cathy was raised catholic and has been a member of St Wendel Catholic Church since 1993 and has served on the building committee, finance committee and as a CCD teacher. She also served as a speech and debate coach and on the PTO of St Wendel Catholic School. Cathy was a YWCA Live Y'ers mentor in Evansville, Indiana for several years.

Penny Smith-Bogert, New YorkSecretary Penny Smith-Bogert lives near Albany, New York with her beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Jackie. She is a retired speech/language pathologist, a devoted yoga practitioner and the mother of a 34-year-old daughter and a 29-year-old gay son. She participates in various local LGBT+ events and volunteers for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Penny is a very active member of her parish, and has served as a Eucharistic Minister, Faith Formation Teacher, Confirmation Team Facilitator and Chaperone to the National Catholic Youth Conference. She currently sings alto in her church's music ministry group and considers herself blessed to be part of such vibrant secular and religious communities.

Deb Word, TennesseeCommunications Coordinator Deb, a native Memphian, is the proud mother of two and grandmother of two. Chris, her oldest son, is gay. She is the office manager for a distribution company. Deb and her husband, Steve, have been active in parish life for more than 35 years, living in Tennessee, Kansas, Mississippi and now back in Memphis. Deb has served as president of the Women’s Guild, and Women of the Cathedral, Building Chair, Pastoral Council Chair, and Finance Council Chair. Deb and Steve are Eucharistic Ministers. Deb is active in CALGM, the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, The Tennessee Equality Project, and HRC. She and Steve are also part of the 1st Tuesday Potluck Host Team, and Parent Support Team for the Diocesan Catholic Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons. One of Deb’s favorite ways to educate people about LGBT concerns is by writing letters to newspapers, bishops, etc. She is a frequent public speaker in Memphis on the topic of "discarded" homeless gay youth. Deb and Steve received the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center 2009 Volunteers of the Year award for welcoming homeless GLBT youth into their home, and in 2011 Deb was honored with a Memphis Women of Achievement Award in the category of “Courage” for that work as well as for her “dialogue with the bishops."

Beth Garascia, IndianaListening Parents Coordinator Beth has a B.A. in elementary education from Thomas More College in Fort Mitchell, Ky., and a master's degree in human development from the University of Maryland. She currently lives in South Bend, Ind., but is originally from Erlanger, Ky. Beth has been a teacher for thirty-two years and is currently teaching GED classes for the Adult Education Department of the South Bend Community School Corporation. Beth and her husband, Tony, met as members of the Advent Community, a Marianist lay community, and they have both been lay members of the Marianist Family ever since. Beth was a founding member of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative’s GLBT Initiative and has been chair since 2008. She and Tony are the proud parents of three grown children, one straight and two gay, and have one granddaughter.

Tony Garascia, Indiana Parent Gathering Coordinator Tony received his master's in counseling from Indiana University at South Bend in 1986. In addition he received a master's degree in liturgical studies in 1978 from the Catholic University of America. Tony has more 25 years of experience counseling individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. His areas of specialty include marriage and relationship issues, family difficulties, depression and anxiety, traumatic stress and bereavement work and sexual identity issues. He works with clients from age 7 up. He is the author of the popular marriage preparation programs Before “I Do” and Catholic Remarriage (Ave Maria Press), Rekindle the Passion While Raising Your Kids (Sorin Books), and Getting Married, Living Together(Ave Maria Press). Tony is licensed in the State of Indiana as a clinical social worker. Tony and his wife, Beth, met as members of a Marianist lay community and have been lay members of the Marianist Family ever since. Tony served as the president of the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities from 2005 to 2009. They are the proud parents of three grown children, one straight and two gay, and have one granddaughter.